All About Steve: When Sandy stalked Bradley

All About Steve has most of the trappings of a failed romcom: Sandra Bullock plays Mary Horowitz, an impossibly quirky brainiac with one of those movie-jobs-no-one-actually-has — really, how many crossword puzzle writers are there for small-market papers these days? Mary’s sharp wit and prettiness can’t help her overcome the fact that she’s too “freakishly smart” to attract a man. After a disastrous blind date with camerman Steve (Bradley Cooper), Mary becomes obsessed, following him across the country in a vain quest to win him over. Tricky — a movie that sets up Bullock as its protagonist yet goes to lengths to establish her as a creepy, badly socialized stalker.

While All About Steve lacks humour — it’s unclear when you’re supposed to laugh, if ever — it’s surprisingly watchable. Überklutz Mary is likeable if only because her mannerisms recall a time when Bullock was cast in some genuinely charming parts. There’s also good-enough supporting work from The Daily Show’s Jason Jones, and Thomas Haden Church as a blowhard reporter. All leave room for the movie’s one great joke: pitching DJ Qualls as a possible alternate romantic interest for Bullock.

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